acicular
- adjective
- /əˈsɪkjələr/
- Specialized
:
acicular
- The acicular leaves of the pine tree are very sharp.
Examples
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Some minerals form acicular structures, resembling tiny needles.
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The acicular leaves of the pine tree are adapted to cold climates.
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Under the microscope, the crystals appeared acicular and densely packed.
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Look at those acicular crystals in the mineral collection.
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The pine tree has acicular leaves that resemble sharp needles.
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The mineral's acicular crystals jut out in thin, pointed formations.
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The design features acicular shapes that mimic the look of sewing needles.
Synonyms
Having narrow, long, pointed leaves or parts that look like needles
Long, thin, and pointed like a sewing pin
A long narrow pointed leaf like a needle on pine trees
Thin and pointed like a needle, as in some leaves or crystals
Having a long thin pointed shape like a pencil
Tapering gradually to a long thin point, like some leaves
Narrow and pointed at both ends, like a long thin leaf
How Pointed
Surface Forms
Morphology
acicular = acicula + ar
A learned Latin-derived formation (acicula- + -ar) with no standalone English base, so an average B1 learner cannot reliably derive 'needle-like' from familiar English morphemes.
Etymology
Acicular comes from the Latin acicula, a small form of acus that means 'needle', so it literally means 'needle-shaped' and is used for long, thin, pointed leaves or crystals.